The New Jungle

This episode of 99% Invisible explores the reliance of the American meatpacking industry on refugee labor. It begins by describing Greeley, Colorado, a meatpacking town where JBS, the world's largest meat processor, has its U.S. headquarters. Reporter Esther Honig interviews Mohamed, a refugee from Burma working at JBS, highlighting the dangerous and brutal conditions of the work. The episode draws parallels to Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle," detailing the exploitation of immigrant workers in the early 20th century. It discusses the industry's shift to rural areas to avoid unions, the recruitment of Latin American workers, and the ICE raids of 2006, which led to a labor shortage. JBS then began aggressively recruiting refugees, exploiting the flaws in the U.S. resettlement system, which prioritizes quick employment over long-term support. The episode also touches on the challenges faced by refugees in Greeley, the community's adaptation, and the potential labor crisis with the decline in refugee resettlement and the end of temporary protected status for some immigrants.